(The Center Square) – An Illinois legislator says it is scary regardless of cost if the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is sending unqualified people to conduct investigations.
State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, said he is considering legal action after DCFS failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests seeking records showing who was conducting child abuse and neglect investigations.
Davis told The Center Square he believes the numbers will show the agency is sending investigators who are not authorized by Illinois law.
“That is scary, regardless of cost, because we’re talking about people and we’re talking about ripping apart families, which is sometimes warranted to protect kids,” Davis said.
Davis said DCFS is more than 30 days late to respond to his FOIA requests.
“We’re being completely ghosted by DCFS,” Davis said.
DCFS did not immediately reply to The Center Square’s request for comment.
Davis, a foster parent, has battled with DCFS for several years over the agency’s use of interns as investigators and other issues.
The Yorkville Republican said DCFS magically went to zero interns on the payroll after he began pushing the issue.
“I just wish we could be more transparent and more accessible because the actions that the department is taking leads to the other outcome of just deception and non-compliance with state statute,” Davis said.
Davis said his bills aimed at improving DCFS remain in the House Rules Committee.
“I would respectfully ask the majority party to release them out of Rules, because we’re dealing with human life,” Davis said.
Davis said he pressed for hearings to be held this fall, but the House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee chair, currently state Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Crystal Lake, has refused to call those hearings to date.
A follow-up audit released in September by the Illinois Office of Auditor General found that DCFS was unable to provide 82% of the required home safety checklists within a sample of 50 cases.
In a sample of 50 cases, auditors failed to find documentation for 16% of required physical examinations, 29% of vision screenings, 63% of hearing screenings and 51% of dental exams and cleanings.
Greg Bishop contributed to this story
